Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-06-24

citation Which Reached the
Presidents Ears from Every
City, Town and Hamlet.
THE PRESIDENT DIRECTS THE sECRETA-
RY OF WAR TO RETAIN THE FLAGS.
To Hon. ". C. Endico.t, Secretary of War
DEAR SIR:-"I have to-day con-
sidered with more care than when
the subject was orally presented me,
the action Of your department di-
recting letters to be addressed to the
Governors of all the States offering to
return, if desired, to the loyal States
the Union flags captured during the
war OF the Re bellion by the Confed-
crate forces and afterwards recovered
by the Government troops, and to the
confederate States the flags captured
by the Union forces, ell Of which for
many years have been packed in
boxes and stored in the cellar and
attic of the War Department. | am
Of the opinion that the return of the
flags in the manner thus contemplated
is rot authorized by existing law,
nor justified as an Executive act. i
request, therefore, that no further
steps be taken in the matter, except
TO examine and inventory these flags
and adopt proper measures for their
preservation. Any direction as to
the final disposition Of them should
originate with Congress
Yours truly,
"GRoyEE CLEVELAND"
PULLS DOWN THE REBEL FLAG.
President Cleveland has heard
from the people concerning that order
to return the rebel flags to the Gov
ernors of the ex-Confederate States.
He has been admonished that tie line
of patriotic endurance has been reach
ed. He has heard the swelling voice
of condemnation coming up from
every city, town and hamlet in those
parts Of the country Of tested loyalty
to the Union and the Constitution of
the United States. He fnds that
this odious and disloyal order was
"without authority of law" He re-
tracts it, He proposes now that
those emblcms shall be preserved.
This change OF tactics merely, rather
than change of heart, is an illustra-
ton of the power Of a united people.
What has "prominent member of
his Cabinet, presumably Secretary
Bayard," to say in the light of this
retraction concerning the bravery
and wisdom" Of such an order? Ger
tainly the order was without the au-
authority of law" and it was equally
without a spark of patriotism. 1t
was a mere case in which the Chief
Executive of mighty Nation per-
mitted his personal ambition to tram
pie underfoot even similitude Of re-
spect for the valor of men who suf-
fered and died that National integri-
ty might be maintained. The thun-
ders of popular denunciation have
awakened his lethargic sense of pro-
priety, and at this late hour he dis
covers his act to have been without
authority Of law" The result is as
gratifying to patriotic minds a. 1T is
humiliating to those who would seek
continuance of power by an Official
recognition OF rebellion and treason.
WHO Is RESPONSIBLE.
WASHINGTON, ID. G. June lG,-The
President has tonight rescinded the
order, which was mentioned in these
dispatches last night, to return to the
Southern States the rebel flags cap
tured by the Union army during the
war and since held in custody Of the
War Department The letter of the
President to the Secretary of War is
very curious piece of composition,
and will excite almost as much com
ment as the order which it recinds,
Nothing since the war has aroused
the loyal people of the North to such
intense feeling as the proposition to
return these rebel flags and nowhere
has the indignation been greater than
here. The trouble seems to be that
it is difficult to ascertain with whom
the project originated. The letter of
the President tonight throws the re-
sponsibility upon the Secretary Of
War, but Gen Drum to-day said that
the instructions came from the Every
highest authority unCe tn, Admins
tration," which is understood TO be
the President himself 1t will also
be noticed that the President in his
letter does not question the propriety
Of returning the flags, but only the
method that was proposed. 1t is
therefore believed that Mr.. Cleveland
himself was the originator Of the
scheme, and that the return Of these
hags was simply following the line OF
policy which he has pursued during
the whole administration Of catering
to the South and to Southern senti-
ment in every possible way.
LAMoNT's EXPLANATION.
The explanations of Col Lamont
have been contradictory and disin-
genuous. lie said this morning that
the intent Of the return has been
greatly magnilied; that it was suppos-
ed that only one flag was to be re-
turned But when pressed, he could
not tell what particular flag and the
latter tonight recognized the fact
that the return Of all the flags was
intended. The President could not
certainly have for an instant antici,
pated the storm of Indignation that
his proposed action has created, but
his failure TO look into the law and
ascertain that he had no power to re-
turn these flags before he directed the
circular letters TO be written to Gov
ernors Of the different Southern States
is inexcusabe. Col Lamont says to-
night that the project originated with
Adjt. Gen Drum, but the remark by
Gen. Drum quoted above does not
seem TO warrant such an inference.
COUNSEL FOR THE POSTS.
In obedience to n telegram received
here by Gen Boynton from Gov.
Foraker, Of Ohio, ex-Secretary Of the
Treasury George S. Boutwell, and ex-
Congressman Samuel s. Shcllabarger,
Of Ohio, were engaged to-day az
counsel for the Grand Army Posts Of
the State of Ohio and Gov. Foraker
to 90 into the Supreme Court Of the
II. n -. a IL. &.